SSS-level catastrophe? That's my wife!

Half a month later, the glass doors of the main entrance of the Zhen'erting Building slowly opened.

A man dressed in plain clothes walked in, a long sword hanging at his waist, his face exuding a faint air of evil.

"Chief Qinghe! You're back!" The guards on duty in the lobby on the first floor were overjoyed and rushed to stand in front of him.

Qinghe smiled and patted him on the shoulder: "You're back."

The loud voice instantly attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.

Several doors opened simultaneously, and hurried footsteps rushed towards the main entrance. Everyone exclaimed in unison, "Chief Qinghe!"

Qinghe's gaze swept across the crowd, and his voice was gentle: "Everyone, it's been a long time."

"Of course, it's not too long, just a month."

A moment later, in an office on the 33rd floor.

Qinghe sat upright opposite Feng Xi and Ning Mo, a smile playing on his lips: "The way you look at each other is like you're interrogating criminals."

Feng Xi's voice was filled with concern: "Has your injury completely healed?"

Qinghe nodded: "Yes, I'm fully recovered."

Ning Mo crossed his arms, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "You've been with Gu Cang the whole time?"

"Yeah, so what?" Qinghe retorted.

"Cheng Xiao said you're staying at Gu Cangyuan's cousin's house," Ning Mo said calmly.

Qinghe paused for a moment and then smiled, "Brother Gu's tavern is too small. Luckily, his cousin lives nearby and has a big house."

After he finished speaking, the air fell silent instantly...

Feng Xi's beautiful eyes darted around, seemingly lost in thought.

Ning Mo's gaze deepened, and he said in a deep voice, "A month ago, the day after you were rescued, a man in black robes drove Gu Cang's car and parked it on the side road outside Zhen'e Court."

"I'm certain he's the fire-elemental awakener."

He paused, then added, "Qinghe, you recuperated with Gu Cang for a month. Do you know that person's true identity?"

"Is Gu Cang... hiding something?"

Qinghe's expression hardened slightly, and he said seriously, "I was indeed curious about it, and I talked to Brother Gu about it."

"He only said the time wasn't right, so we have no reason not to believe Gu Cang."

"The time isn't right yet?" Ning Mo frowned slightly.

Feng Xi then chimed in, "Qinghe, I heard that Brother Gu's distant cousin has amazing theoretical knowledge? You live under the same roof, what kind of person do you think he is?"

"Him?" Qinghe pretended to think for a few seconds, then chuckled, "He's just a freshman at the Awakener Academy."

"To put it bluntly, he's a young man with high aspirations but little real ability, full of theoretical knowledge but lacking practical skills."

He glanced at the two of them and added with a smile, "What? You're interested in him?"

The atmosphere in the air was subtly quiet.

"Let's not talk about him anymore." Ning Mo broke the silence first. "The balance between us and the central government has been broken. We must remain vigilant at all times."

"You guys go back first."

Feng Xi was the first to get up and leave.

When Qinghe reached the door, she paused slightly, turned to the side and said, "If you're curious, why don't you go and see for yourself?" Then she strode away, not giving Ning Mo a chance to speak.

Ning Mo was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with increasing doubt, and he murmured, "Qinghe... is somewhat different from a month ago."

He pondered for a moment and made a decision.

……

In the northern part of the city, a detached villa is located one kilometer away from the Sun and Moon Cafe, heavily guarded both inside and out.

Each guard was a powerful Awakened One.

A black sedan slowly pulled up in front of the villa. As Zhao Shanhe opened the car door, a guard in black quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully: "Boss, you've arrived."

"Hmm." Zhao Shanhe nodded slightly, his voice low. "How has the old man been lately?"

The guard paused for a moment, then answered truthfully, "As usual, boss."

Zhao Shanhe sighed softly and walked towards the villa gate.

Inside the living room, several guards bowed their heads simultaneously: "Boss."

He nodded and walked straight to the second floor.

In the bedroom on the second floor, an elderly man sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, basking in the sun, his eyes vacant as if veiled by a layer of mist.

The door was gently pushed open, and Zhao Shanhe waved to the guards inside. The guards understood and quietly withdrew.

The footsteps approached from afar, and the old man slowly raised his head.

Zhao Shanhe squatted down, his voice extremely gentle: "Father, I'm here."

"You...you..." The old man's voice trembled, and a faint light suddenly appeared in his empty eyes. "It's...Shanhe has come..."

Zhao Shanhe's heart skipped a beat, his expression brightening with joy. He grasped the old man's arms with both hands: "Father! You're lucid now? That's wonderful!"

The old man's stiff arm slowly rose, but stopped in mid-air, as if being pulled by an invisible force.

Zhao Shanhe quickly grasped the withered hand, his voice trembling with excitement: "Father, your son is here! What do you want to say? Speak slowly, there's no rush."

With all his might, the old man uttered a few words in trembling voice: "They...they...are demons...you can't defeat them...live peacefully..."

Zhao Shanhe's expression changed drastically, and his voice became urgent: "Father! Who are you talking about? What are demons? Please speak more slowly!"

"Don't... investigate any further... there's no... chance of winning... this is... a cage..." The old man's voice grew weaker and weaker, and his words became increasingly incoherent.

"Father, could you please... make sure I can understand something? You..." Zhao Shanhe hadn't finished speaking...

The old man's eyes suddenly shifted, his gaze becoming unfocused, and he looked at him with a puzzled expression, asking, "Who...are you?"

Zhao Shanhe suddenly tilted his head back, a bitter feeling rising in his throat. Why does it always end at the crucial moment?

He suppressed his emotions, his voice still gentle: "Father, I am your son."

"You... are my son?" The old man tilted his head, his eyes blank.

"Yes! That's me!"

No...you are not.

Zhao Shanhe smiled wryly and pressed on, "Then tell me, who is your son?"

"My son...is Shanhe..."

"I am the mountains and rivers, Father."

"How could I not recognize my own son...?"

A moment later, Zhao Shanhe sighed and stood up, his voice as soft as a breeze: "Father, I will come to see you again next time."

"You will recover soon."

The old man's eyes were vacant, and he did not respond.

Zhao Shanhe shook his head helplessly and turned to walk towards the door.

Just as he grasped the doorknob, he suddenly heard the old man's intermittent voice behind him...

"Since ancient times... there has been only life and death... there is no reason to surrender... to lose half the battle..."

……

Zhenbei City, Wunian Building, 25th floor.

In the spacious room, Qiu Hu, his injuries completely healed, was lounging on the sofa with his legs crossed, smiling at the newcomer and saying, "Brother, what brings you to Zhenbei City today?"

Xiong Hei walked over and sat down beside him, saying in a nonchalant tone, "Just checking to see if you're still alive."

"Hey!" Qiu Hu waved his hand, his tone full of smugness: "It's nothing!"

"Half a month ago, I single-handedly took on two seventh-tier awakened individuals from the kingdom and led my men to break through their encirclement."

"Those guys are just so-so!"